Stand up against those who bully




All of the recent discussion of bullying at local schools needs to be put into proper perspective. It seems the media is trying to say that bullying has become a national epidemic and that something has recently changed in that regard.

This is overstated in one sense, that somehow we have a large problem that we did not have before. It also seems understated in the sense that bullying is widespread and always has been a basic human behavior across most, if not all, societies.

In all stages of life we encounter people who, by their very nature, will try to push people around. But bullying won’t go away just because of some improved school rules, community program, special training or even new laws.

The world is going to have adversity like this and we all need to face that reality. Each of us must find our way to effectively respond.

During the elementary school years– ages 5 to 13– parents, teachers, coaches and school administrators need to teach children how to face such tough challenges and how to expect a world that includes adversity—and not to expect a world that somehow protects them from bullies.

We need to teach children to stand up for themselves as directly as possible.

Sometimes open confrontation is the only way to effectively resolve the problem. Fighting back will work in many cases. Other times the wisest approach may be to avoid a direct fight and immediately bring in a higher authority such as a parent, school principal or even the police to nip the problem in the bud before it gets worse.

The point I want to make is that bully behavior must be met by a firm response from each individual person right at the time the bullying occurs.

Kevin Haakonsen

Agoura Hills



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